51 
its operations the cattle in its quite immediate neighbourhood. For 
description of fly, see p. 41 preceding. 
Observations of Injury to Health and Condition of Cattle, and 
also of Damage to Hides caused by Ox Warble Fly 
Infestation. 
The preceding observations are an attempt to give as shortly as 
possible, consistently with sufficient detail to be of use, a continuous 
account of the life-history of the Ox Warble Fly (. Rypoderma bovis), 
from the egg onward to full development, with especial observations 
of the method of life of the maggot, and effects of its presence in 
the hide. 
In the following pages I give, from information placed in my 
hands by cattle owners, chairmen and managers of cattle and hide 
associations, and others scientifically, as well as practically, in¬ 
terested in the subject, some notes of the extent of the losses which 
we are suffering yearly from warble attack, classed under headings 
of “ Injury to Health and Condition of Cattle,” “ Licked Beef and 
Jelly caused by Warble,” and “ Losses by Damage to Hides,” pre¬ 
ceded by the following general estimate. 
What the losses from effect of warble-attack may amount to yearly 
is difficult to calculate with certainty. Mr. W. H. Liddell, of 
Bermondsey, put it at two million pounds sterling annually to Great 
Britain and Ireland; and on March 3rd, 1885, Mr. Richard Stratton 
of The Duffryn, Newport, Mon., remarked :—“You have made one 
trifling mistake, and that is in the amount of my estimate of the 
annual loss sustained from the fly, you make me put it at a million , 
but I do not think I have ever put it at less than a pound per head 
on every animal unsheltered from the ravages of the fly, which 
would probably be seven or eight millions for the United Kingdom, and 
this, I fully believe, is not above the mark.” 
This looks a large estimate just on the face of the thing, but a 
deal of the amount may be fairly approximated, in considerations of 
dairy losses, and to a great degree calculated out by returns of loss per 
stone, or per carcase, on damaged animals, and losses on hide. 
Injury to Health and Condition of Cattle. 
The great yearly loss is not only from the perforations of the 
maggots lessening the value of the hides, but the loss in flesh and 
milk and health in summer, when the animals are started by their 
terror of the fly to gallop as fast as they can go, and later on the 
suffering and drag on the system of supporting may-be six, ten, or 
e 2 
